A Heartfelt Thank You: Viva GAC!

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who made our 4-Day 50th Golden Celebration — and all of this year’s special events, 50 years in the making — truly unforgettable.

To our amazing volunteers, every performer who lit up our cultural show, those who cooked, moved chairs, cleaned, and kept the energy alive — we see you, and we appreciate you more than words can say.

To our incredible Calgary band Go Cal Ixtt — Fr. Avinash Colaco, Shaun Noronha, Dominic Mendes, Hillary D’Souza, Placy D’Souza, and Savio Cardoso — and to The Blackjacks — Brian Lobo, Larissa Lobo, Logan Rodrigues, Frank Camilo, Rodney Judd, and Sebastian Lloyd — thank you for traveling and performing to make this milestone shine.

It takes a true village to bring a 4-day celebration like this to life — and we want to give special thanks to some of our incredible volunteers who went above and beyond to make it unforgettable.

We’ve done our best to include everyone, but if we missed your name, please let us know so we can update the list — because every contribution matters.

We truly couldn’t have made this event happen without each and every one of you! ...

• Alba & Alan Fernandes

• Alister & Natashia Fernandes

• Allison & Aurelio Fernandes

• Angela & Charles D’Souza

• Carol Mendes, Michelle & Hailey Lobo

• Cecilia & Mervyn D'Mello

• Celia & Trevorlyn Menezes

• Cornel Rodrigues & Suku Gomes

• Corryine & Selzick DeSouza

• Eloma & Wilson Soares

• Eustace and Patricia Fernandes

• Elvis Siqueira

• Greeba & Hubert DeSouza

• Hugo & Electra Sequeira

• Hyacinth & the late Manuel Dourado

• James Dubash

• Janice & Savio Fernandes

• Judith & Rahim Esmail

• Juliann & Horace D’Silva

• Marcus DeSouza

• Maria & Savio Mascarenhas

• Maureen Rodrigues

• Melanie, Meredith & Ally Fernandes

• Melissa, Chase, Ryder & Earl Fernandes

• Odette & Joel Lobo

• Sandy & Joe Almeida

• Sophie & Darryl DeSouza

• Tiana & Bertram Fernandes

• Vicki & Francis D’Souza

• Vivienne & Tony Monteiro

• Yohaan Mascarenhas

And to Joel Lobo, our DJ who kept the dance floor buzzing night after night — you brought the music, and we brought the moves.

We are deeply grateful to our priests — Rev. Father Alex Braganza, Rev. Father Avinash Colaco, Rev. Father Julian Studden, Rev. Father Newton Rodrigues, and Rev. Father Roque Pereira — for your guidance, blessings, and presence during our celebrations.

To everyone who traveled from near and far to join us — thank you. To our Goan Association Calgary Members ❤️ — you are the heart of this community. Fifty years strong, and still growing!

We’ll be sharing photos and videos soon so you can relive the magic, the music, and the moments that made this celebration truly golden.

Let’s keep that flame alive for our community that we’ve reignited this year burning strong for years and generations to come! VIVA GAC! ...VIVA GAC!...